moses



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. O. A. MOSES.

, VOLTAIO ARC LIGHT.

No. 276,702. Patented May 1,1883.

siFQL WITNESSES: INVENTOR m J, m

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. A. MOSES.

VOLTAIO ARC LIGHT.

Patented May 1, 1883.

WITNESES INVENTOR ww b UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO A. MOSES, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

VOLTAlC-ARC LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,702, dated May 1,1883.

Application filed September 1:5, 198']. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OT'ro A. Moms, of New York city, in the county andState of New York, havein vented acertain new and useful Improvement inVoltaic-Arc Lamps, (Case A,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of electric lights known asvoltaic-arc lamps, and its object is to furnish a lamp of exceedinglysim ple and economical construction, with provision for automaticallycontrolling the feed of the carbon by means of a solenoidal or magneticgovernor of few parts, but efficient in operation, and especiallyadapted to be used in multiple-arc systems with other lamps of the sametype, or with incandescent lights, but also capable of being used inseries or multiple series.

To these ends the invention consists in the features more particularlyhereinafter described and claimed.

In carrying the invention into practice a frame is used for supportingthe various parts, which may consist of two metallic sides and ametallic bottom, for which mere rods, as ot't'ering the leastobstruction to the light, will answer, united at the top or fourth sideby an insulating material,which forms the barrier in the lamp betweenits two electrical terminals, or with a metallic top plate insulatedfrom the rods connected therewith. Affixed to the top is a hollowelectro-magnet or solenoid, to whose upper end plate is attached andprojects upwardly a hollow tube, which may be called a protecting-tube.Passing through the center of the solenoid, and fitting snugly therein,but capable of easy movement tlierethrough, is a tube, whose lower endis fitted with a holder for the upper or positive carbon,which may betermed the carbon-holding tube. The carbon-holder may be integral withthis tube, or a separate piece attached to it. It consists of ascrew-threaded socket, preferably slightly tapering, and having two ormore 1011- gitudinal slots. Upon it fits a tapering internally scrcwthreaded thimble, which tends to cause the lower edges of the slottedsocket to press in toward each other, grasping and holding firmly thecarbon. When this carbonholding tube is well drawn up its upperextremity passes into and is protected by the protecting-tube beforereferred to. \Vithin the carbon-holding tube is arranged the core orarmature ot the solenoid, aflixed to a rod or tube supported by a springat its upper end from the protecting-tube insuch manner and so adjustedthat the resilience of the spring tends normally to cause the core orarmature to project a little below and out of the base ot' the solenoidor magnet. This core or armature is of peculiar construction, consistingprimarily of a rod or bar of soft iron, of smaller diameter thantheinterior ot' the carbon-holding tube,witbin which it is located. Itis entirely covered by what may be called a brush, consisting of ironwires arranged longitudinally upon the entire exterior of the core, andto which they are fastened at the top or middle, the lower or both endsbeing free and bent inwardly slightly toward the axisot' the core. Theiron wires may be copper-plated to reduce resistance, or a layer ofcopper wires may be used in addition to the iron wires. Below or partlyor wholly within the solenoid or magnet, and within its magnetic field,is located, external to the carbon holding tube, a piece of magneticmaterialsuch as iron, steel, or nicltclwhich may be termed theintensifierf This intensifier is preferably of annular shape andsurrounds the CaFbOl'l-llOltllllg tube, and is also preferably capableof motion to and from the solenoid or magnet, and titted within a case,or playing between stops or other devices for limiting the extent of itsmotion, although the intensifier may have other than an annular shape,and, whether annular or not, may have a fixed position. The solenoid isplaced directly in the circuit, which is preferably a multiple-arccircuit including one or more. lamps. From the main circuitoncconnection is made to the free end of the solenoid or magnet-coil, itsother end being attached to and forming electrical contact with theinner metallic shell of the solenoid, whence the circuit continues tothe carbon-holding tube, passing principally through the brush, whichmakes good electrical contact for the purpose, thence to the carbon,tothe carbon and the metallic frame of the lamp, to the other connectionfrom the main circuit.

The operation of the lamp thus constructed and arranged in circuit isabout as follows:

Upon closure of circuit the solenoid or magnet renders both the core orarmature and the intensifier magnetic by induction, attracting hem, thering or intensifier toward its base, and the core or armature withinitself and against the stress of the spring; but the free ends of thewires of the brush referred to, being all of one polarity, are repelledeach by the others,fiyingoutwardlyand impingingagainst the inner side ofthe carbon-holding tube, binding it between the intensifier and thebrush, so that it is lifted with them sufficiently to form the arc, andthen held in that position. As the arc increases, of course, theresistance in the lamp circuit increases, diminishing the magnetic forceof the solenoid or magnet. The parts are so adjusted relatively to eachother that when the point of greatest desired arc has been reached themagnetic effect of the so lenoid or magnet is so weakened that the brushrelaxes its hold upon the carbon-holding tube to some extent, which thendrops by gravity and is forced down 'ardly by the movement of the coreor armature, which is depressed by the spring until the magnetic forceof the solenoid is again restored.

instead of having the core or armature divided into two or morerepelling parts, it may be of one single piece, having sufiicientlateral movement to permit it to strike the sides of the tube inclosingit and force the tube against its guides. The brush form is preferred,however, since the movement is more uniform, and better electricalcontact is made to conduct the current to the carbon.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the distinctive feature of theregulating mechanism is the location of a magnetic core or armaturewithin the carbon holding tube, such core or armature clamping the tubeand forcing it to move with the core or armature, either by the clampingaction alone or assisted by the fluid in the tube, as hereinafterstated.

The carbon-holding tube is preferably filled with some tluid-sneh asglycerine-which serves to lubricate its interior, preventing excess offriction, regulating or slowing down the movement of the contiguoussurfaces, and preventing any spark at the points of contact of the tubeand brush. The fluid also forms a means of communicating motion from thebrush to the carbonholding tube, in addition to that afforded by thecontact of the brush with thetube, the interstices between the brush andtube not being sufficiently large to prevent the almost simultaneousmovement of the brush and tube.

Vdhile this general description gives a fair idea of my invention, itmay be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which-Figure 1. is an elevation giving the general appearance of the lamp;Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the lamp when not in operation; Fig.3, a longitudinal section of the lamp when in operation, and Fig. 4: adetailed sectional view of the carbon-clamp.

N P P Q represent the frame of the lamp, of which P P Q, maybe metallicrods or tubes, while N is of insulation, and serves as a support or basefor the remaining devices of the lamp.

M is the solenoid, attached to and supported by or from N. From its toprises the protecting-tube A, within which, and passing through thecenter of the solenoid, is the carbonholding tube B, having a clamp, 'l,at its lower or free end.

13 is arranged tomake a comparatively snug fit within the heads 7! h ofill, but at the same time to be capable of easy sliding therein.

Dependent from A, but secured thereto by the spring S, is a rod, 0,passing within the tube B, and carrying at its lower end the arma tureor core of the solenoid, the stress of the spring tending normally tothrow the free end of this core or armature a little beyond the end ofthe solenoid, as shown in Fig. 2. The armature or core consists of thecentral bar or red of iron, E, whose exterior is covered by wires 0 0,arranged parallel to each other and to the axis of E. These wires 0 eare fastened securely together, and to E at the top E, in any suitablemanner, the lower ends beingleft free and slightly turned in towardcenter of E, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As these wires arefastened upon E in the similitude of a brush, the term brush has beenapplied herein to this peculiar construction of a core or armature.

Below the solenoid, and surrounding the tube 13, is an iron ring, Iwhich, becoming magnetic by induction from when M is charged, acts inturn by induction upon E, aiding or intensifying the action'ot' Mthereon, to which, theretore,the term intensifier is applied. 1 iscapable of sliding freely upon 13, and its motion is limited by eitheran open case, as shown, or by stops arranged in any suitable way.

In Fig. 4-. is seen more in detail the carbonclamp it, being a plugwhich is screwed into the free end of B, slightly tapering, screw;threaded, and slotted, as at '1', in several places, whilelis a thimbletapering and screw-threaded, so that as it is screwed upon it it forcestogether the lips or jaws formed by the slotting of It, causing them tograsp the carbon.

I find it desirable to [ill the tube B nearly to its top with someviscous liquid, like glycerine, for the reasons hereinbel'ore given.

As before stated, a particular feature of the regulator herein describedis the division of the armature or core into parts adapted to bemutually repelled,andlocated within the tube carrying the carbon, sothat when repelled, these parts shall impinge on the inside of the tubeand control its movement. For this purpose the brush, core, or armatureshown is an excellent type, but only a type, as its mechanicalconstruction, in order to avail of the principle of magnetic repulsionexisting between similar polarities, may be greatly varied, and,

IIO

in fact, there are many ways in which an armature or core acting in samemethod may be made, all of which, for the purposes of this case, areequivalents of the form shown.

The circuit-connections in the lamp are as follows, 1 2 being theconnections from the lamp to the main circuit: Connection 1 leadsdirectly to the coil of the solenoid, the other end of which coil iselectrically connected to the interior metal wall of the solenoid at 3.As the heads h h of the solenoid impinge on B, there is electricalconnection between them, and from B to the upper carbon, when the partsare in the position shown in Fig. 2. The current also passes through thebrush and liquid to the tube B. When, however, the parts are intheposition shown in Fi 3 the principal part ofthe current flows throughthe brush, which makes good electrical contact with the tube. From B thecircuit is through upper carbon, 0, to lower carbon, O,t'orming the are,thence by Q P to 2 and main circuit. When the lamp is not in operationthe parts are in the position relatively to each other shown in Fig. 2,the ring F resting at its lower limit of movement, while is protrudedfrom the solenoid by action of S, the wires 0 e lying in their normalposition against the core E. Gircait now being closed, M renders E. e c,and Fmagneticbyinduction,the action ol'F,inturu, upon E e intensifyingthe action of M thereon. e eimmediately repel each other, impingingiirmly against the interior of B. At the same 7 time F is drawn uptoward M, while E is attracted within it, seeking to place itself in aneutral position, the effect being that B is lilted with E, so that thecarbons are separated and an are formed. As M is directlyin the circuitwith the carbons, the magnetic effect of the current therein is directlyaliected by the resistance at the are, which of course increases as thearc increases by consumption of the carbons. This finally reaches sucha. point that M cannot hold E against force of b, while 0 e loosen theirhold upon B. Thereupon B is forced downwardly by its own weight and theaction of the spring through the core and fluid until the magneticeti'ect of M is restored by the diminution of resistance eti ected byproper curtailment or relighting 0t theurc, due to this dropping of B.Thereupon 0 e again fly out and holdB firmly. The relative movements ofE and B are made regular and smooth by the liquid within B, while theliquid prevents any sparks and oxidation due to sparks at the contactsbetween 6 and B, and also serves to communicate motion from E to B.

This construction forms a lamp exceedingly simple, involving very fewparts, regular and efiicient in action, and especially adapted to beused in multiple-arc circuits and in systems where incandescing lampsare used.

What I claim is-- 1. In a voltaic-arc lamp, the combination, with asolenoid or electro-magnet and its core or armature, of acarbon-carrying tube interposed between them, aud within which the coreor armature moves, substantially as set forth.

2. In a voltaic-arc lamp, the combination, with a solenoid orelectro-magnet, of a carboncarrying tube and an armature or core locatedwith-in such tube and clamping against the sides of the same,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a solenoid or electro-magnet and acarbon-carrying tube, of a divided core or armature, the parts of whichrepel each other, said divided core or armature being located within thecarbon-carrying tube and clamping against the sides of the same by theaction of the repelling parts, substantially as set forth.

at. The combination, with a solenoid or electro-magnet and a. tubewithin the same, of a core or armature located within said tube, saidcore or armature being composed of a central body and surrrounding wireswhich repel each other and the body, substantially as set forth.

5. in a voltaic'arc lamp, the combination, with a solenoid orelectro-magnet and its core or armature, ofa carbon-carrying tubecontaining fluid, within which the core or armature is placed,substantially as set forth.

6. In a voltaic-arc lamp, the combination, with a solenoid orelectro-magnet and amoving carbon carrying tube containing fluid, ot'the core or armature of such solenoid or magnet, located within suchtube and fluid, the tube being moved by the core through the tluidwhennot in contact with such core, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with an electro-magnet or solenoid, acarbon-carrying tube, and an armature or core within such tube, of anintensifier external to the tube,substantially as set forth.

The combination, with a solenoid or mag netand its armature or coreplaced within the carbon-carrying tube, of a ring placed out-side of thetube, acted on by induction from the solenoid or magnet, and assistingin action upon the armature or core, substantially as set forth.

9. In a voltaic-arc lamp, the combination oi a solenoid orelectro-magnet, protecting-tube rising therefrom, acarbon-earrying tubepassing through the solenoid and within the protecting-tube, and a rodsuspended by a spring from the protectingtube and supporting the core orarmature within the carbon-carrying tube, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 8th day of August, 1852.

OTTO A. MOSES.

Witnesses:

H. W. SEELY, EDWARD H. lvar'r.

KOO

